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Bob Odom cut his political teeth with the Louisiana Department of Agriculture in 1960, when that old cowboy Jimmie Davis was governor and future state CEO Kathleen Blanco had just completed high school. Fresh from the Haynesville cow farm where he was reared, Odom initially toiled as head of the pesticide division, crawling his way to the top in 1979, where he has served ever since as commissioner without any real opposition.

He has spent nearly three decades advancing his department’s reach—which now includes an unparalleled $100 million budget and 800 employees—and deliberately growing his powerful Democratic network. Odom has even kept in touch with his roots in the pesticide industry—his campaign finance report includes thousands of dollars of contributions from companies with names like “Bug Smashers” and “Roach Busters,” reading more like the pest control section of the Yellow Pages than a donor list.

But Odom’s sleek veneer has been tarnished during this most recent term in office. Even though a state district judge earlier this year tossed out a litany of charges against him, ranging from money laundering to filing false public records, Odom faced off against an eager prosecutor who argues the charges were wrongfully dismissed and wants another trial. Additionally, over the past few weeks, another judge ruled that Odom was ill advised in seizing certain seafood imports and holding his own administrative hearing to decide whether his own actions were constitutional.

Still, not unlike New Orleans Congressman William Jefferson, another Dem facing corruption charges, Odom has decided to run for another term—without a hint of worry. “I will not turn my back on the farmers, forest landowners and good people of this state,” he says.

Just the allusion of corruption, however, has packed the starting gate, and Odom is bracing for what indubitably will be the race of his life. Only GOP challengers have surfaced thus far, which isn’t surprising. Democrats know full well how effective his network can be, at least pre-Katrina. It combines the rural vote with the party’s traditional minority blocks in a way that has never been duplicated—Odom even prints his own sample ballots for the political fiefdom. At last official tally, Odom had raised more than $300,000 for his re-election and had a respectable $590,000 in the bank. But this isn’t a conventional race.

State Rep. Mike Strain of Abita Springs had his operations up and running once the corruption charges started making headlines, garnering a whopping $788,000 from donors impressed with his “Army of Reform” approach aimed directly at Odom. Lurking in the wings is Baton Rouge Metro Councilman Wayne Carter, who has $682,000 in his campaign war chest and an armful of unique policy ideas.

With such contenders, it’s just a matter of deciding who has stronger conservative creds. James Quinn, executive director of the Louisiana Republican Party, says the GOP will be focusing on personalities rather than policies and won’t be playing favorites—at least not this early in the race. “As of right now, I would be surprised to see any move for an official endorsement,” he says. “We’ll see who makes the runoff and go full throttle from there.”

Strain may have already won the heart of the party if endorsements are any indication. He has the backing of Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany and U.S. Sen. David Vitter of Metairie, among others. While Odom has no specific plan to point to at this stage of the campaign, Strain is touting a five-tier proposal. He wants to reduce transportation and fuel costs for farmers through tax credits, invest more money in new farming methods and “be a fiscal hawk when it comes to the use of tax dollars.”

A veterinarian by trade, Strain also wants to develop a Veterinarian Task Force to increase awareness of biological events (think mad cow) and take a scientific approach to livestock sanitation.

Don’t expect to hear all of these issues in Strain’s media campaign, though. The overriding theme will be to demonize Odom and his pending legal woes, a tried and true political method that has toppled many incumbents over the years—and surely there’s no shortage of hard-hitting fodder for the Strain team to work with.

Carter may surface as a reliable source for fresh ideas this campaign cycle, and his consultants plan on bringing the pitches to voters. While he owns a company that sells offshore drilling equipment, Carter also has roots in North Louisiana and the timber industry. He supports all of the same ethics overhauls as Strain, but also wants an inspector general on the administrative level to oversee the massive department—from florists and loggers to hog farmers and gas station owners.

He is also fond of specialty crops and believes organic farming could help Louisiana compete nationally. One of his more ingenious ideas would pair up Louisiana farmers with local school districts, accomplishing two tasks: creating a new market for agriculture professionals and providing healthy alternatives to young students at a price at which schools would jump.

Still, Carter won’t be lying down; he’ll take his swipes at Odom at every available opportunity as well.

As for Odom himself, he has already been endorsed by the Louisiana sheriffs and assessors associations, and the standbys like labor and teachers will likely follow suit. The Louisiana Democratic Party is also standing firm behind their man, who wants nothing more than to protect his job and legacy. “Unlike the others, I am not running for re-election to essentially shut down the Department of Agriculture and Forestry or to eliminate crucial programs Louisiana citizens rely on,” Odom says. “I am running for re-election because I know Louisiana agriculture and forestry.”